How to Become a Microsoft Dynamic 365 Partner in Canada

Selecting the right Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner is crucial for Canadian businesses looking to implement and get the most value out of Dynamics 365. With the right partner, you can ensure a smooth implementation, optimized usability, tight integration, and maximum ROI. However, not all partners are created equal. Here are the 8 most important things for Canadian organizations to look for when evaluating potential Dynamics 365 partners. Continue reading this article if you're interested in finding out what factors are most important to consider when selecting a Dynamics 365 Partner in Canada.

What is a Microsoft Dynamics Partner?

A Microsoft Dynamics partner is an organization that provides consulting and implementation services for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and other Dynamics solutions. Dynamics partners have extensive knowledge and experience deploying Dynamics platforms to meet business needs across sales, customer service, finance, operations, and more. Partners have certified technical professionals and proven methodologies to deliver successful Dynamics projects. They provide a range of services from initial needs assessment and solution design to configuration, customization, data migration, integration, change management, training, and ongoing support. By leveraging the expertise of a Microsoft Dynamics partner, organizations can effectively adopt Dynamics solutions, maximize business value, and enable digital transformation.

How to become a Microsoft Dynamics Partner?

Depending on how quickly you pick things up, it may take some time to become a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partners This is a detailed guide explaining the process of becoming a Microsoft Dynamics Partner.

• Review Requirements - Microsoft has specific requirements for partners including sales & marketing activity, technical capabilities, training, certification, customer references, etc. Review the details to ensure your organization can meet them.

• Enroll in the Program - Enroll online in the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) and then apply for the Dynamics competency that aligns with your focus area (Sales, Customer Service, Finance, etc).

• Get Certified - Ensure your team gets the proper Dynamics certifications based on their roles. Certifications validate technical expertise.

• Invest in Training - Get up to speed on Dynamics capabilities, new features, and solutions through available partner training resources. Stay current.

• Build Expertise - Develop in-house technical teams with strong Dynamics skills and proven implementation experience. Depth of expertise is key.

• Market Your Business - Take advantage of Microsoft marketing tools and co-branding opportunities. Generate Dynamics-focused marketing content and sales collateral.

• Deliver Customer Success - Build relationships with early pilot customers. Gather client references and case studies to demonstrate your Dynamics delivery capabilities.

With the right investments in people, knowledge, and marketing, becoming a profitable Microsoft Dynamics partner is an achievable goal. Consistently delivering customer success is critical to growing within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Key Factors to Consider When Looking for a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partner.

1. Industry Expertise and Experience

One of the most critical factors is choosing a partner with extensive expertise and experience within your specific industry. Dynamics 365 is highly customizable, but truly optimized implementations leverage industry best practices. Make sure any potential partner has an established track record of successful Dynamics 365 deployments specifically for your industry. This experience will enable them to configure Dynamics to your industry’s unique business processes, requirements, and nuances.

Industry expertise to look for includes:

• Years of experience implementing Dynamics 365 for your industry

• Vertical-specific pre-configurations and templates

• Industry advisors on staff

• Custom-tailored industry functionality, workflows, and integrations

• Success stories and case studies from clients in your industry

A partner well-versed in your vertical can help ensure your Dynamics platform is set up to meet all your sector’s needs right from the start.

2. Flat Rates and Predictable Pricing

Implementing Dynamics 365 can get complex fast, making the costs difficult to predict. To budget effectively, look for partners that offer simple flat-rate pricing and predictable cost structures. Beware of partners touting cheap hourly rates that can quickly balloon with any scope changes or customizations. Make sure the partner is upfront about all costs, outlines them clearly in the contract, and assumes responsibility for any price overruns.

Ideally, find a partner to provide:

• Flat-rate pricing for full implementations

• No-surprise cost structures

• Budget-friendly monthly subscriptions

• Annual support contracts with defined costs

• Responsibility for any unplanned costs

Flat rates, even if higher upfront, can prevent sticker shock and provide financial peace of mind.

3. Pre-Built Accelerators and Add-Ons

To get the most from Dynamics 365, you’ll likely need it integrated with other business systems and extended to meet industry-specific needs. Rather than building from scratch, look for a partner that offers pre-built solutions to accelerate your implementation.

Valuable accelerators to look for include:

• Vertical-specific modules and capabilities

• Pre-configured integration adaptors

• Industry data models

• Pre-mapped industry value streams

• Pre-built Power Platform solutions

• Add-on apps and extended functionality

Leveraging a partner’s existing IP and add-ons can greatly reduce costs, speed deployments, and simplify complex integrations - getting you up and running quickly with proven solutions tailored to your needs.

4. Cloud and Infrastructure Expertise

Dynamics 365 is built to leverage the power of the cloud for maximum business impact. You want a partner who is a seasoned expert at cloud deployments to ensure smooth performance and easy scalability.

Key cloud capabilities to look for in a partner include:

• Experience migrating clients to the cloud

• Knowledge of optimal cloud configurations

• Familiarity with Dynamics 365 online/infrastructure

• Expertise in cloud-based integration

• Ability to leverage cloud analytics and AI

• Successful cloud deployments at scale

• High availability and redundancy experience

Prioritizing cloud expertise will provide confidence your Dynamics platform will perform and scale seamlessly in the cloud.

5. Focus on User Adoption

The success of your Dynamics 365 implementation hinges on driving end-user adoption across your organization. Make sure prospective partners prioritize change management and user adoption strategies.

Look for partners with:

• Proven change management frameworks

• Communication and training programs

• Focus on ease of use and simplicity

• Adoption readiness assessments

• Usage analytics and optimization

• Expertise driving user engagement

With the right adoption strategies, they can help employees embrace Dynamics 365 - maximizing your ROI.

6. Implementation Methodology

Specialized implementation strategies designed for Dynamics 365 can streamline success. Look for a partner with established methodologies to support planning, configurations, testing, training, and go-live.

Key methodologies to look for include:

• Structured implementation roadmaps

• Defined change management plans

• Configurations via best-practice templates

• Iterative prototyping and testing

• User-centric design thinking

• Progressive module rollouts

• Comprehensive training programs

Proven methodologies minimize disruptions during implementations and drive consistent customer success.

7. Focus on Maintainability

To sustain long-term benefits from Dynamics 365, you need to keep solutions optimized, adopt the latest features, and plan for growth. Seek out a partner invested in maintainability via ongoing support, updates, and enhancements. 

Maintenance capabilities to look for include:

• Post-go-live support and tuning

• Regular platform upgrades

• Migration assistance and planning

• Expansion services as you scale

• New feature integration

• Personalized enhancements

• Ongoing user training

With a focus on maintainability, you can ensure your Dynamics platform continues driving maximum value and evolving to meet changing needs.

8. Strong Microsoft Partnership

The best Dynamics 365 partners have close relationships with Microsoft itself. They should have high partner designations, frequent collaboration with product teams, and direct pipelines to Microsoft resources and insights.

Signs of a strong Microsoft partnership:

• High partner designation tier

• Early access to new features

• Close work with Dynamics dev teams

• Repeated Microsoft partner awards

• Strong relationships with Microsoft reps

• Direct technical support lines

Leveraging a partner fully plugged into Microsoft will provide insider access you can’t get on your own.

You can also read:  Essential Things You Must Know on Dynamics 365 Implementation Partners

Conclusion

Choosing the right partner is one of the most important Dynamics 365 decisions for achieving success. Focus on industry expertise, predictable pricing, accelerators, cloud skills, driving adoption, proven methodologies, maintainability, and a close Microsoft relationship. Prioritizing these key factors will lead you to the ideal partner to maximize the value of Dynamics 365 for your organization. With the wrong partner choice, your implementation risks delays, cost overruns, and performance issues down the road. But the right partner will ensure a smooth journey to Dynamics 365 success and unmatched ROI in Canada.